Benedict Arnold (congressman)

Arnold was born in Schaghticoke, Albany County, New York (after 1791 Rensselaer County, New York) the son of Elisha and Sarah Francisco Arnold.Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Schaghticoke, transcription by Rev. A.H. Meyers, p110. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 14 January 2024. He was named in honor of the famous Benedict Arnold at a time during the American Revolutionary War when he was still seen as a hero of the United States, stemming from the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. The name was also common in the Arnold family; the first Benedict Arnold immigrated from England with his father in 1635.

Arnold attended the local schools and became a successful merchant. He married Mary 'Polly' Bovee (sister of Matthias J. Bovee) on August 21, 1806, in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York. They had twelve children.Will of Benedict Arnold of the Town of Amsterdam (written and proved 1849). Montgomery Co. Wills and Probate. Ancestry.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.

Arnold owned large stretches of land, and was able to dedicate much time to philanthropy. As was common at the time for local magnates, he entered politics for a short period; in 1816 and 1817, he served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

In 1828, Arnold was elected to the Twenty-first United States Congress as an Anti-Jacksonian to represent the sixteenth district of New York. He served from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831,{{cite web|title=Benedict Arnold|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/benedict_arnold/400929|publisher=Govtrack US Congress|accessdate=5 August 2013}} and did not seek reelection. He was president of the board of trustees of the village of Amsterdam in 1832 and did not engage in active business pursuits, but lived in retirement in Amsterdam, New York, until his death.

Arnold died in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York, on March 3, 1849 (age 68 years, 149 days). He is interred at Green Hill Cemetery, Amsterdam, New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=101070|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Green Hill Cemetery|date=December 2004|accessdate=2013-01-21|author=Raymond W. Smith|publisher=New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725212256/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=101070|archivedate=2014-07-25}}{{cite book |last=Cudmore |first=Bob |title=Stories From The Mohawk Valley: The Painted Rocks, the Good Benedict Arnold & More |year=2011 |publisher=history Press |isbn=9781609490584 |oclc=739914084 |pages=32–33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fMpTlt7hkwwC&pg=PA32}}

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• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/arnold.html#390.83.94 Benedict Arnold entry], The Political Graveyard. Accessed March 28, 2024.

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{{US House succession box |state= New York |district= 16 |before= Henry Markell |after= Nathan Soule |years= March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831}}

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Category:1780 births

Category:1849 deaths

Category:Members of the New York State Assembly

Category:People from Amsterdam, New York

Category:National Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature

Category:19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives